TNAG-0602-FCO40-750-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 4

I Gilby Esq

44 Barrells Lown

Bishops Stortford

Herts.

233 4381

RECL

HKC 38671

Y NO. 51

- 9DEC 1977

DESK OF

INDEX

PA

No

@

REGISTRY Action Takən

де

308

HKG 380/1

8 December 1977

I have been asked to reply to your recent letter to the Prime Minister about the executions in bermuda.

269

The

The administration of justice in Bermuda is an internal matter proper to the Bermudian Government. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs does not intervene in a particular case of capital punish- ment unless he has grounds to believe that a serious mis- carriage of justice might take place. In the cases of the two convicted murderers, Burrows and Tacklyn, the Lecretary of State considered carefully all aspects of the process leading to the final confirmation of the death sentences, but could find no evidence to suggest that a miscarriage of justice had occured.

You will by now be aware that the executions were carried out in Bermuda on 2 Lecember.

You may also have seen that Lr Owen told Farliament on 5 Lecember that he was prepared to review the question of capital punishment in the Lependent Territories.

WE Quantrill

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